Can the Chiefs Win Without Dwayne Bowe?

By robertmaharry

John Rieger- US Presswire

The Kansas City Chiefs injury woes continued today with word that star wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was limited in practice with soreness in his thigh. For a team already reeling with injuries to Dexter McCluster, Peyton Hillis, Rodney Hudson, and Kendrick Lewis, this is terrible news. Bowe is easily the team’s best receiver, and he’s the only one to play consistently so far this season. In an AFC West rivalry game against the San Diego Chargers, the Chiefs would like to have their entire arsenal, but it doesn’t look like that will be the case on Sunday.

After running back Jamaal Charles, Bowe is the next most important cog in the Chiefs machine. If Bowe and McCluster both miss Sunday’s game, Kansas City will be without its two best receivers, with 234 and 142 yards, respectively. Quarterback Matt Cassel’s next most popular target has been Jonathan Baldwin with just 98 yards. Though they are clearly a run first team, the lack of any real receiving threat will allow San Diego to load the box and focus on limiting Charles. At 1-2, this divisional matchup is crucial for the Chiefs, and if Bowe misses the game, it severly limits their chances to score.

While soreness in a thigh isn’t the end of the world, the way the Chiefs have lost players over the last few years can’t help but make a fan paranoid. I am hopeful that he plays on Sunday and makes his usual impact, because without Bowe, the Chiefs will have an incredibly weak passing game.